Chapter 168: The Transmigrator

Dong Xu tightened the last screw, straightened his back and wiped his sweat. The delivery cart's wheels turned smoothly; he gave it a push and the cart moved steadily forward. Zhao Jianguo, sitting on a stool and revising the handbook, heard the sound, looked up, and nodded.

"All set," Dong Xu said as he walked over and sat down. "The third branch has had no mishaps these three days, the accounts match, and the leftover dish registrations are complete."

Zhao Jianguo closed the notebook: "Next it's time to train the new employees. What have you prepared to say?"

"What could I possibly speak about?" Dong Xu forced a wry smile. "I didn't even take the Gaokao."

As soon as the words finished, footsteps came from the Courtyard Gate. The twins, one after the other, ran in, each carrying a small cloth bundle.

"Dad!" the two children shouted in unison.

Zhao Jianguo stood up: "Why aren't you asleep yet? You have class tomorrow."

"Nainai asked us to bring you lamp oil," said the one on the left.

"We also brought mantou," the right one raised, half of which had already been bitten.

Zhao Jianguo took the cloth bundle, patted their heads: "Thanks. After I'm done with work, I'll go back to the room."

The twins stayed, squatting beside him to look at the handbook. Dong Xu rolled up his sleeve, took a sip of cool tea, and suddenly remembered something.

"You said earlier to get the real questions within three days?"

"Mm." Zhao Jianguo pulled a thin booklet from his pocket; its cover was pale yellow paper, titled "1978 Gaokao Real Questions Compilation".

"You actually got them?" Dong Xu's eyes lit up.

"They were signed out," Zhao Jianguo opened to the first page. "Chinese Language Corner, Mathematics Corner, Physics, Chemistry are all there. We can use them now."

The news spread quickly. In less than ten minutes, a circle of people gathered under the Zhongyuan Huai Shu Xia. He Yushui arrived clutching a notebook, and San Daye shuffled over, leaning on a cane.

"Let me see if the physics questions are hard," San Daye stretched his neck.

"Please don't push ahead," He Yushui stopped him. "Everyone will take turns; a sheet of paper must not be torn."

Zhao Jianguo placed the booklet on a small table and lit an oil lamp. The light was dim yellow, and the characters were somewhat blurry.

"We don't have enough paper; we can only copy the key points," he said. "I brought Special Paper and Steel Pen; tonight we can copy three copies."

"You also know this?" Dong Xu asked.

"I learned it," Zhao Jianguo lowered his head and began writing, the pen tip scratching with a rustle.

A few minutes later, the first part of the Chinese Exam First Section was copied. He handed it to He Yushui: "Take it first to discuss the essay topic."

The copying of Mathematics and Physics was also underway. Zhao Jianguo, while writing, drew small marks beside the questions; no one could see clearly what they were.

"Are you annotating?" Dong Xu leaned in to look.

"Invisible Mark," Zhao Jianguo whispered. "Later, under UV Lamp illumination, we'll know which questions are prone to mistakes."

"You have that skill too?" Dong Xu stared.

"Don't make a fuss," Zhao Jianguo looked up, scanning the surroundings. "Now more people can see the real questions; we must guard against leaks."

Just then, San Daye suddenly slapped the table: "This math problem is harder than the accounting I did back then!"

"Back then you only did payroll accounting, at most addition, subtraction, multiplication, division," He Yushui laughed. "Now you have to solve equations."

A crowd chattered, dividing by subject to examine the questions; the atmosphere was lively. Zhao Jianguo finished copying the last major physics question and slipped the original into his pocket.

"Starting tomorrow, we'll review by subject," he stood up and announced. "A test once a week, a mock exam setting."

The others responded and dispersed. Dong Xu stayed, staring at the booklet's cover for a while.

"May I take the physics paper home to look at?"

"Sure," Zhao Jianguo took out the physics portion. "But it must be returned by tomorrow morning."

Dong Xu took the test paper, furrowing his brows: "This third question… the transformed formula of momentum conservation, why does it look somewhat familiar?"

"Like whose writing?"

"It doesn't look like a person wrote it," Dong Xu shook his head. "It looks carved."

He suddenly recalled something, turned, and ran toward the Beifang.

When Zhao Jianguo followed inside, Dong Xu was already rummaging through the Toolbox. He pulled out a palm‑sized metal sheet, its surface bearing several fine lines.

"My dad left this," he said. "I never knew what it meant."

Zhao Jianguo took the metal sheet and compared it with the test paper, discovering that the patterns matched the formula structure in the physics question exactly, even the turning angles were identical.

"That's no coincidence," Zhao Jianguo lowered his voice. "Your dad may have studied Gaokao content."

"Impossible," Dong Xu shook his head. "He spent his whole life repairing machines in a factory; how could he have encountered exam questions?"

"But this formula matches," Zhao Jianguo pointed to a bend. "Look here; an ordinary person wouldn't write it like this, yet the carving and the printed script are identical."

Dong Xu fell silent. He fetched Sha Zhu's magnifying glass and brought the cafeteria's gas lamp inside, lighting it and turning it to the brightest setting.

The two knelt on the table to compare. Under hot light, the carvings on the metal sheet became clearer. Every stroke direction, every symbol position, matched perfectly.

"My dad… did he know something?" Dong Xu's hand trembled slightly.

Zhao Jianguo gave no answer. Just as he was about to speak, his wrist jolted sharply.

The system alarm sounded.

【Detected Historical Correction Force Fluctuation】

【Source: Southeast Direction】

【Advised to immediately seal the original data】

Zhao Jianguo's complexion changed. He quickly extracted the original real questions, stuffed them into the Storage Ring, leaving only a blank cover outside.

"Something happened?" Dong Xu sensed something was wrong.

"Someone wants to alter these questions," Zhao Jianguo grabbed his coat. "I have to go out right away."

"Where to?"

"Follow the signal to investigate," Zhao Jianguo walked toward the Courtyard Gate. "You stay here, guard this photocopy, and don't let anyone touch it."

He had just pushed open the Courtyard Gate when a soft voice came from behind.

"Dad!"

Shuang Baotai didn't know when they had stood at the doorway, wearing Single Layer Clothing and still clutching the Cloth Bundle sent during the day.

"It's so late, go back to sleep." Zhao Jianguo turned his head.

"We want to go with you." the two children said in unison.

"It's cold outside, you can't go."

"We're not afraid!" the one on the left stomped a foot.

"And..." the one on the right pointed at his chest, "You forgot to bring the Oil Lamp Bottle."

Zhao Jianguo froze. He had indeed forgotten. But he couldn't take them with him.

"Listen." he said, squatting down, "Dad will go get better books and come back soon."

After saying that, he stood up and quickly walked out of the Courtyard.

The Alley was quiet, only Distant Dog Bark. He walked along the Wall Base, ears alert for any movement. System Prompt Continuously Vibrating, Frequency Increasingly Urgent.

Having walked less than fifty meters, Footsteps sounded behind him again.

He looked back and saw Shuang Baotai catching up, their small faces flushed, their breath visible.

"Didn't I tell you to go back!" Zhao Jianguo stopped.

"We're following you." the two stood side by side, "If you don't let us speak, we'll stay silent."

Zhao Jianguo looked at them, his heart tightening. He knew they couldn't be persuaded, and time waited for no one.

"Then stay close." he said softly, "No running around, no making noise."

The three continued forward. Zhao Jianguo quickened his pace, entering a narrow Hutong. Wind swept over his head, making the hem of his clothes snap.

System Prompt Suddenly Strengthened.

【Fluctuation Source Distance: 300 Meters】

【Direction: Steel Rolling Factory East Side Wall】

Zhao Jianguo Clenched Fist, Steps More Urgent. Shuang Baotai Trot Followed, one Tripped Once, the other Immediately Supported.

Turned Last Corner, the Steel Rolling Factory's Iron Gate came into view. Rust-speckled Enclosure Wall had Withered Vine climbing on it, and a faint light leaked from the Door Gap.

Zhao Jianguo stopped, Raised Hand Signalled Them Not to Move.

He Slowly Approached Main Gate, Ear Pressed to Listen.

Inside there was no sound of speech, nor footsteps. But the ground trembled slightly, as if some machine was operating.

He reached out to push the door, the Iron Gate emitted a slight creak.

At that moment, the Shuang Baotai simultaneously raised their heads, looking toward the top of the Enclosure Wall.

On the inside of their wrists, where the moonlight fell, a faint golden trace appeared, fleeting.

Zhao Jianguo didn't notice. He pulled the two children, quietly climbed over the Low Wall, and upon landing stepped on and crushed a Withered Leaf.